How to Celebrate Pride Month in Washington, DC
When is DC Pride 2022? The month of June marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the United States every year as a way of honoring and commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York. Stonewall was a major tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement, and now the month of June is a time to celebrate and learn about Pride.
If you live in the Washington, DC metro area, you might be wondering how you can celebrate Pride Month this year. Check out these 5 ways to celebrate your pride in the local area.
Capital Pride in DC
Capital Pride, or the Capital Pride Alliance, is a nonprofit organization that serves the needs of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the calendar year. They offer educational programs, fundraising, outreach and advocacy, and promote visibility.
Even though they celebrate, support, and inspire the LGBTQ+ community all year round, they have particularly exciting festivities for Pride Month. You can check out the Prince William County Pride Community Celebration, the DC Pride Weekend Kick-Off and Midseason Social, or the Capital Pride Rooftop Pool Party. They also have various groups you can join on Zoom to meet other people celebrating Pride.
Make sure you don’t miss the Pride Parade on Saturday, June 11th. This year, the route has been modified to honor the history of LGBTQ+ communities in Washington, DC and their neighborhoods.
Support LGBTQ Artists
Throughout the month of June, there will be plenty of music and art events taking place in the city. It’s a great opportunity not only to support local artists and musicians but also to support those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
DC Center Arts Gallery
The DC Center Arts Gallery features all genres of art created specifically by LGBTQ+ artisans. In order to support the community, they focus on the core areas of health and wellness, arts and culture, social and peer support, and advocacy and community building.
When it comes to their arts and culture offerings, they have monthly LGBTQ+ film series, book festivals, and they host the DC Queer Theatre Festival. They also regularly exhibit visual arts collections.
Arty Queers
An indoor market hosted by the DC Center, Arty Queers helps local artisans showcase and sell their original work including paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, glass work, textiles, and clothing.
The market takes place on the first Saturday of each month from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. You can even reach out to the DC Center if you’re interested in showing your own work.
DC Pride Film Festival
The DC Center will also be hosting a Pride film festival — Reel Affirmations: Washington DC’s International LGBTQ Film Festival Presents DC Pride Film Festival.
The event will span the weekend from June 23rd to June 26th and it will feature screenings from a number of different LGBTQ+ creatives to help them share their stories and artwork.
Treat Yourself & Your Partner to a Spa Day
Self-care is always important to focus on, but if you’re out and about in the sun at the Pride Parade or other festivals, taking a day to relax may be more important than ever.
If you’re thinking about going to a spa, it’s important to find one that you feel comfortable at. There are a number of LGBTQ-friendly spas in the DC area, including The Spa at the Hotel at the University of Maryland.
Take the opportunity to show yourself and your partner some love with one of our services or packages. We offer facials, massages, waxing, and nails. Our Spa Day Package includes several of our services, and our Couples Massage Package is a great way to spend some quality time with your partner.
Enjoy a Drag Show
A great way to celebrate DC Pride Weekend is to attend a drag show in the area during the month of June! There are plenty to choose from throughout the city, and some might even be brunch options. We’ve listed a couple of possibilities for you, but make sure to explore more drag shows happening in DC this month!
Not Another Drag Show
Not Another Drag Show happens weekly, every Monday in Dupont Circle. It’s a high energy show that helps prepare you for your week! Each show features a new, rotating cast of local DMV performers.
The details:
Every Monday at 8pm
Dupont Italian Kitchen | 1637 17th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009
Firefly Drag Show
Firefly Drag Show celebrates Pride Month with an extravaganza of local drag artists, and the whole thing is hosted by DC’s Best Drag Queen of 2021. It’s a funny and lively show!
The details:
Friday, June 10th from 7:00pm-10:00pm
Firefly Restaurant | 1310 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
MIC CHECK with Gray West: Stand-Up Comedy & Drag Show
MIC CHECK is a night of stand-up comedy and drag hosted by Gray West. It features LGBTQ+ comics and drags queens from the local area, and it’s an hour of nonstop comedy. It’s the perfect entertainment for your Sunday night.
The details:
Sunday, June 16th at 7:00pm
DC Comedy Loft and Bier Baron Tavern | 1523 22nd Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20037
Find an LGBTQ+ Support Group
There are a lot of ways that you can expand your circle and support the LGBTQ community in the DC area, and there’s no better time to do it than during Pride Month.
Both the DC Center and Capital Pride offer a number of groups that support people through specific situations or simply help people make connections and build a better community. Make sure to check out their event calendars to see if there’s one you might be able to attend.
Book Your Stay in College Park, MD
The Hotel at the University of Maryland is a comfortable and convenient location to be close to all of the exciting action of celebrating DC Pride Weekend events. If you’re looking to book your travel to join in on the festivities this June, take a look at our Luxury Rooms & Suites.